Garden Girl

 Is there such a thing as Cottage Punk? 

 

One of the most formative moments in fashion for me was when Ashish put these chunky boots on the the Spring 2012 runway accessorised with all these delicate flowers. I think about it weekly at least. 

 

The balance of hard and soft, utilitarian and fanciful, is the best embodiment of my own relationship with fashion and gender. I am mad for these boots. And you can be too, thanks to my old faithfuls - the various plant pieces from an old edition of 9 to 5. If you can find them in the bazaar, hoard them! They're so useful!

 

These boots are a statement - so not for everyone, but as long you keep the chunk well balanced, anyone can pull it off. I've paired them with a pretty feminine dress, but the black ribbons with the earrings reflect the darkness further up and frame the delicate green.

 

Do you have a formative fashion moment that made you wake up and say YES THAT. That one there. Sound off in the comments - I'd love to hear!

 

Featuring:

Ganni Dress • Vinyl

Faux Bone Earrings • Inspired by Balmain Tribute

Plait Ribbons • PPQ of Mayfair

Gold Chain Bag • Pretty 'n' Love

Leather Platform Boots • Nelly.com

Assorted Florist Leaf Twigs and Flowers • 9 to 5

Patina

Just a simple one from me today - it doesn't have to be all singing all dancing all the time...

 

I think my favourite neckline is this kind of balconette scoop-y shape (technical term) as I've used it several times in just a few weeks. I was originally going to wear the Vivienne Westwood dress, which is now relegated to a tiny detail at the bottom, as the main piece, but the elegant neckline of this coat-dress won out. 

 

The texture of the coat-dress has a lovely organic colouring, like buttery leather, and it really spoke for itself. I liked it alongside the copper greens in the Westwood dress, so I also chose some grey-green earrings to pick up that same quality. It seemed fitting to leave it at that and let the subtlety of the pieces do the talking for once!

 

Featuring:

Leather Trench • Fendi Tribute

Long Coat Beige • Basics

Westwood Inspired Painter Dress • Inspired by Vivienne Westwood Tribute

Plated Gold Earrings • Epiphany

Trench Coat Belt • Subcouture

Ruffled PVC Pumps • MSW

Put a Pin in It

I had a mixed relationship with the Zuhair Murad tribute - some good accessories, but not a lot of pieces that I thought would fit into my wardrobe...

...except these trousers. I love good pair of pink trousers. And while I may have like..30 pairs in varying shades, I don't have any in this cooler pink shade in this slightly flared cut. Therefore I had to have them. 

 

I don't usually like belt details that are already built in to the trouser (or anything for that matter), but with there being a lot of similar shades going on here, it brings some extra definition to the waist without being too harsh a line. I'll allow it. 

 

Also, you know what's an undervalued accessory? The humble collar pin. I think it fell out of favour when the indie hipster look of the early 2010s (do we call it twee now?) started to die out in favour of streetwear. While I'm NOT OK about the return of twee, I'd be glad to see the menswear collar pin come back. This one's made of two earrings and a necklace - just a subtle enough amount of details to give this look some oomph without detracting from the main star - the colours

 

Featuring:

Pastel Blouse • Pearls

Powder Pink Pants • Inspired by Zuhair Murad Tribute

White Crisp One Side Blazer • Millionaire Mansion Fashion

Round Glasses • It Girls

HotBuys Hoop on Hoop Earrings Left and Right • Pretty 'n' Love

HotBuys Gold Chain of Chains Choker • Rio

Versace Miniaudiere • Callie's Picks

Balenciaga Inspired Triple S Sneakers Woman • Subcouture

Sunshine Girl

Not my usual vibe to go for theme-y, or gown-y, but the recent Schiaparelli tribute has me feeling a flight of fantasy.

She's serving Sun-Saint-goes-to-that-one-Met-Gala-we-all-loved (Shadow & Bone fans, I see you), what with the tiara, the gold and sky blue. 

 

It's also yet another collection of things I picked up from the bazaar seeing as I missed them the first time around. As a huge Schiaparelli fan, I knew I needed this dress from the previous season, but as soon as I had it I wasn't sure what to actually do with it. Sometimes you have to just do a bit of fashion spaghetti and throw it all at the wall until you think it's done...

 

Featuring

Crystal Schiaparelli Inspired Dress •  Inspired by Schiaparelli Tribute

Balmain Inspired Corset • Inspired by Balmain Tribute

Striped Cashmere Shawl • Inspired by Chanel Tribute

Cream Draped Skirt • Perfect Day

Gold Hair Accessory • Voile

Double Pearl Earrings • Voile

Doja Earrings • Tingeling Couture

Summer Ankle Jewel • Rio

Miranda Baby Blue Belt • Young Hollywood 

Draped Beads Neckpiece • Royalty

Blue Lace Stiletto • Fendi Tribute

Flower Power

Man I love this two piece from Riviera - it's so summery and joyous!

 

But, I have a really weird relationship with mini skirts, so I've taken it upon myself to see if It Will Midi Skirt.

Turns out it will! You need three of them and a solid mastery of the resize glitch, but by George it works. 

 

And now we're working a little smarter, obviously the look needs a shirt and tie. But we want to keep that joyousness and fun, so a ridiculous fluffy handbag is the perfect finishing touch. 

 

It's a bit of a layercake of a look, but this is my favourite one I've produced in a while!

 

Featuring:

Flower Top • Riviera

Flower Skirt x3 • Riviera

Red Throw On Jacket • Runway

Stacy Mini Shirt • Callie's Picks

Crisp White Cami •The JetSet

Triple Drop Earrings • MSW

Red Silk Tie • Voile

Faux Fur Bucket Bag • It Girls

Snakeskin Pumps • Pretty 'n' Love

Z U H A I R M U R A D B A G S | Styled Outfits

I really loved the bags in the recent Zuhair Murad tribute collection - one style in a range of colours suits me to a 'T'! And as I bought a number of pieces from the release, I've saved these fun coloured bags for a separate styling post of their own, check out which colours I went for:

First up is the Purse Green which is a shade of green that I really don't have in my bag collection so I felt like it was a must to add it. I think the green and gold combines very nicely and I didn't find it too tricky to pick some matching pieces, like these earrings, they're really a perfect companion accessory! I also kept with gold for the shoes which also worked well. For the clothing I tried possibly every green item I had, a few looked ok, but with my accessory choices nothing was quite right so I opted for something else entirely. The black trousers make a solid neutral base for the green to pop and I think the light yellow of the blazer is a great pairing for green (in fact I think I've definitely done that before). Overall I'm really liking this styling! Next up is the Purse Pink, again I don't think I have anything else in my bag collection which is quite as vibrant as this one, plus the gold chain handle really sells it to my style preferences. I knew I wanted to wear another bright pink piece in this look, of course I couldn't resist this bold dress, I really think these two pieces are fabulous together^ With all those details in the dress ruffles I didn't want to add too much else, but some gold accessories finished the styling, I think these boots look great with the bag and will look good with all of the colour options it is available in. And finally the Purse White which I think was a given that I would purchase, I love a white bag! I knew I wanted to pair more white with the bag and I'm really pleased with how these trousers work with the bag, they've got such a smart style. I ended up choosing this gold hue blazer and I think it balances between the white and the bright gold details of the bag really well. The rest of the accessories were of course gold and I think they complete the look nicely.

I really liked working with all of these bags, I think all of the colours worked well and I didn't find it too repetitive working with the same bag design =)

I N S P I R E D B Y I R I S V A N H E R P E N | Tribute Styled By You

The third tribute of the season is here - Iris Van Herpen! This one really isn't my style at all, the designs are super creative and instantly recognisable, but for me they're generally not too wearable and don't fit my style or preferences. But I still wanted to record that the collection exists so today I'm just sharing a couple of features from the collection. I haven't seen many dolls wearing this collection at all, so I guess a lot of people also feel the same way about the wearability.

There are three floors to the store, which is actually more than I was expecting when I saw the brand, and I do like that there are a range of colours available across the pieces - but still, this one just isn't for me. First up with a feature is harpie who styles the White Platforms, the shoes are definitely the most versatile options in the release! These really look great popping out against the fabulous trousers, the print and the ruffled hems really draw your attention down to the shoes and highlight them in the styling. The rest of the look balances well, the pink sheer top looks great with the trousers and the white shirt cuffs just peeking out make a nice touch to balance the white of the shoes. The bag is such a fun touch, it pops without taking focus from the shoes and fits with the trouser print perfectly^

And the second feature comes from Natasasitsa who wears the Water Waves Dress in such a glamorous way, it's not something I had imagined for this piece - in fact, I struggled to see how this piece would be styled at all. The two dresses are such a great fit for each other, the colours blend together perfectly and the wave design of the main piece really complements the colours and design of the other dress included. The accessories are fab, I love these silver shoes, they really pop and also balance well with the platinum hairstyle (which I love too^), and I think the blue tartan bag is such a fun idea, the colours really work nicely with the rest of the look =D

P R E T T Y ' N L O V E | Styled Outfits

Our latest Pretty 'N Love release was a little bit of a mixed bag, but had some super cute pieces that I just had to try out. My favourite piece from the release has to be the Pastel Shirt, I just think it's adorable and a great Spring/Summer piece. I love the rainbow pastel colours and the design of the piece is lovely and very flattering, I especially love the puffed sleeves and fitted body style. With the rainbow colours there are so many options for choosing pieces to pair with the piece and I tried on a few options before deciding on greens and blues, this skirt looks great with the piece! The greens fit together well and I think green also works well with the other colours of the piece. These pale blue shoes are also a great fit for the colours on the blouse and it was easy to pick some matching accessories. This is such a cute look and I can't wait to wear this piece again already =) Next is the Pink Crystal Bag which I really loved in store, but struggled with styling - the colour is beautiful but a very specific red/pink shade, and I didn't have a lot that matched perfectly with it. In the end I decided to keep the pink tone for the accessories, I think these boots are a pretty nice choice for the bag and will make a good combination for an Autumnal styling too. I opted for white clothing which makes it a little more of a Summer styling, and I think that works out nicely with the bag. Some silver earrings finished the look well, the hanging silver handle of the bag is perfect for adding silver into stylings^ And the final piece is the Bow Top, I thought this looked really cute and very retro-Summer so I had to give it a go even though it's not completely my style. I really enjoyed styling this piece though, so it was worth giving it a chance. I knew from the get-go that I wanted to use black and white pieces in the styling and I'm pleased with my choices - this skirt with the black line details really works well with the details on the top, the two are nicely complementary of each other. Most of the accessories are black but I think they balance out the look well and don't overwhelm the pieces, these delicate strap shoes are great for a classic Summer styling and of course I had to include my favourite sunglasses combination =D

T I N G E L I N G C O U T U R E | Styled Outfits

We recently got a new release of Tingeling Couture in the Plaza, which was a bit unexpected as I would always associate this sort of release with Halloween or the holiday season. The whole collection wasn't so much my thing, but I did pick up a couple of pieces to try out. First up are the Doja Earrings - these were a free SS gift shortly after the release, so I didn't purchase these but I'm quite pleased with how the look has turned out. I didn't focus on the gold element of them (surprisingly) but instead played on the blue jewel that dangles on the end of them, the colour is so vibrant I really like it and love how well it works with this little shimmering jacket, I think it's such a sweet combination^ I built the look around that and decided on white to keep it light and Summery. In the accessories there is a little gold in the chain of the bag, but really the only gold is the earrings and I think that really helps them pop! Next up is the Butterfly Traslucent Top which I thought looked so pretty, the detailing is gorgeous. This was a lot trickier to style than I had imagined because I really wanted to try and go for a Summer style, but nothing was quite working out how I wanted. In the end, classic black pieces work like a charm for this one^ With the sheer fabric I layered a black bodysuit underneath which worked well for my preferences and I think these trousers are a sleek, smart choice. I did try to pick out some fun accessories, these mules are super cute and I'm not sure if I've worn them before but they make a nice Summer option, and it's always nice to bring out a classic Chanel bag, this one suits the style of the look perfectly =) And the final piece is the Satin Frill Top which was the first piece to stand out to me in the collection, I love the one-sleeve design and the beautiful deep purple colour. I did try and style it with another colour, but nothing quite looked as good as matching purple trousers, this Dior pair are perfection with the colour of the top. I think silver looks great with this dark purple colour so picking accessories was pretty easy and I'm happy with these choices, I really liked trying out a different pair of sunglasses, these look pretty great in this outfit!

Caramelatte

Brown is such an underrated colour. 

Black can be striking, but a bit stark, severe and draining. Brown, on the other hand, has a sophistication and sumptuousness. It's a little unexpected and has lots of dimension in its many shades. 

 

This Runway Jacket is absolutely gorgeous and I knew I wanted it straight away (even if it was a bit pricey for what it is). The angles and silky textures are just lush and it *looks* expensive. Funnily enough, these trousers are a near-perfect match and thus! We have a suit! 

 

With all this shape, colour and harmonious silkiness, there's not a lot left to do but accessorise lightly with brown and bronze details to pick up the hardware in the jacket. 

 

Now, we're ready to go out, but I must say, something's got me craving espresso....
 

Featuring:

Satine Jacket • Runway

Brown Pants • Bonjour Bizou

Brown Top Bikini • Fever

Vintage Tortoiseshell Earrings • Couture Tribute

PPQ Gold Chain Necklace (worn as belt) • PPQ of Mayfair

Black and Gold Coco Watch • Couture Tribute

Brown Tote • Bonjour Bizou

Gold Sandals • Inspired by Y Project Tribute

I N S P I R E D B Y E L I E S A A B | Tribute Review

Here is Tribute 2 of the season, a brand new brand for us - Elie Saab! This is super exciting for me as the brand is known for such elegant, beautiful and detailed pieces, I really never thought it would be something we would have as a Tribute store, so I am over the moon about this addition! I won't say anymore, let's get on and see the release:

This collection is quite amazing, there are five floors - this many really reminds me of the early Tribute seasons when it was the norm to have this many floors and number of looks in a release, I'm so pleased about it. And at first glance this collection looks impressive too beyond the number of looks on offer. Starting with the accessories, of which of course there are a lot to choose from. Unlike with Zuhair Murad where the focus was on shoes, it's the opposite here which is a nice mix. There are 4 pairs of shoes in this release, but to be honest, none of them really stand out to me - the designs are fine and they are all unique to each other, but really they're nothing too new to the Plaza. I've also not seen many dolls styling these pairs. The store is also minimal on bags, there are just 2 to choose from, personally I really like the Pearl Clutch, it has an elegant feel to it and the small size is perfect. I really like the gold chain handle and the overall texture of the piece is quite unique, I think it will really stand out in an outfit^ Several of the clothing items come with attached belts, however there are 6 belts you can pick from which is quite the selection for one collection! Whilst 3 of the belts are black with gold details, there is a reasonable selection of styles you can choose from. The first one that caught my eye was the Wide Belt With Rope, for me it stood out from the other black pieces as having a decent versatility - the other ones are quite thick at the sides of the body, and this one is the opposite being thick in the middle, which is more my preference but I think they all look pretty classic and will be wearable. Next to mention is the Velour Belt, this is a burgundy velour with a big gold buckle and back piece, I think it looks quite fabulous! The last piece to mention is the Star Belt, I didn't really like this at first but it grew on me once I zoomed in and saw the star details around the buckle which looks great, and the colour of the belt is pretty nice too. And there are a number of jewellery pieces included too, what is great is that these are available in both beauty parlor and suite versions so you can choose what works best for you - I really love that! Of course the first piece to catch my eye were the Oversized Sunglasses, these look like such a fun pair of shades in their design, it's definitely unique and really stands out in my collection. I also love the neutral brown/beige colour they have, I think it really makes them versatile - can't wait to wear these! Also in a neutral colour are the Brown Bids Earrings, these really popped in the store, despite their smaller size, and I love how they look on the doll. They have a gold bar joining the two beads, I love what a delicate touch this adds. I've not seen anyone style these yet and would love to^ I am still a little tempted by the Black And Gold Earrings (styled already by Miloshki!) - these are a mis-matched dangly pair that really look super fun as there are so many elements to them. And lastly there are also some necklaces in the collection. I really like both the Tassel Necklace and the Chain Pendant, both are long pieces but definitely individual in design - for me the gold in the designs really stood out as something I would wear, and I really quite love the wrapping around the neck before going down into the long chain that the Tassel Necklace offers. I think this is a really solid offering of accessories!

Onto the clothing - I will again go through this section by floors, as there are five(!) and they are all pretty themed by floor, I'm all for this^ The first floor is all about gowns in green and blue tones, for me these designs are quite 'classic Elie Saab', meaning these styles are what I think of when I think of the brand - for the first floor I think they really sell it! Personally I've not bought any of these and I probably won't as they're a little too much gown for my style, but they're still super pretty pieces. The Turquoise Gown looks amazing, that colour is so eye catching and the design is a classic, I really like the gathering in the top. A similar gathered piece in the top is the Draped Gown Suit, I really love that there's a jumpsuit in there, even if it's not too wearable a piece. This really looks great on the doll, and the colour is just stunning - if I could have these trousers as a separate piece I would be happy^ The final piece to mention for the first floor is of course the Feather Dress, what's not to like about sequins and fun feathering?! This also looks great on the doll and is such a glamorous piece. The second floor is a bit of a mix and is more the fun colourful pieces that didn't fit elsewhere in the store. The first piece that stands out to me is the Blue Satin Dress, this seems another super classic Elie Saab to me and I think it's super cute - I love this colour a lot, but it's not a style I can see myself getting a lot of wear from. Similarly with the Velour Dress, I love the colour, and it pains me to pass up a burgundy piece, but it's not the sort of dress I could wear in a number of different ways - the design on this one is great though, I really do like the one shoulder draping, it's fantastic! But on this floor both the co-ord sets really did catch my eye, the Black Holo Top and Striped Holo Pants (though they look like a skirt) and the Printed Top and Maxi Printed Skirt. I love the contrasting fits to the pieces, the Holo items are tighter fitting with a more racy striped design while the Printed pieces have a more casual-Summer vibe with a loose fit and a fun print. I think these items will look good separate too and so I'm looking forward to testing that out. The third floor is all about black pieces with all of the items in different designs and styles, there's plenty to choose from! The sparkly pieces sure catch the eye first, those are the Transparent Dress and Turtleneck Dress which are both high neck, long sleeve and longer length pieces, which are all design features that I really like. The first is a more sheer piece however is covered with a fun striped pattern and does have an underpiece included - this piece also has some fabulous shoulders. The second has a velvet-style texture and does seem a little more minimal, but I think this will make a great party-season piece for styling and I think it will have a number of styling options. The dress that I really love on this floor is the Dress With Print, it really reminds me of some older style Miu Miu pieces that I loved at the time, so I knew I had to give this a try! I love the style of it, super minimal but it fits the doll well and the design is certainly unique and stand-out in the current Plaza. Also on this floor I thought the Crystal Top was a fun piece, I love a turtleneck and these multicoloured gems look fun to style. The one thing I will say is that this piece comes across as much more vibrant in store than in my suite, the blue really doesn't stand out at all which is a bit of a shame and the other colours are more muted. The fourth floor is perhaps my least favourite of the five, whilst I like the pink and muted tones, I don't so much like the pieces. The Embroidery Jacket is such a pretty and detailed piece, but for me the colour doesn't work well on my doll. The final floor however is much better, so ending on a high! This one is themed for bright colours with a focus on yellow and orange - of course I love it! The first piece that caught my attention was the Leather Mini Dress, the bold orange colour is fantastic and this short sleeved and mini length piece just looks fab, the floral details are a great touch. I know this piece won't work for everyone, but for me this is just something I can see that I want to style multiple times. The Glitter Mini Dress balances out the floor, the striped colour design is beautiful and the piece sparkles too^ This also fits the doll very nicely as well - I've not bought it yet, but I am very tempted. And the very final piece I want to mention is the Mustard Dress which is just all around stunning. The yellow colour is completely my thing and I love the more minimal design this piece has, the floral detail is just enough and I adore the pleating, but it's not too over the top. Now I just need to find multiple reasons to buy and style it =D

F E A T U R E S

First up for the features is Bianca.Vos styling the Transparent Dress really looking fabulous! This dress design looks great with the cropped blazer layered ontop, it really looks great. The simple black accessories are perfect to make sure the dress is the focus of the outfit, the heels are elegant and I love these studded earrings a lot. The short hairstyle is perfect to highlight the power of the blazer shoulders and let the earrings pop^

Next up in something a little brighter is harpie wearing the Printed Top which is such a fresh piece and looks great in this outfit. The yellow of the shoes balances the yellow in the print very well, and the black tulle maxi skirt also plays well with the black leaf of the print. But it's the blue that really stands out, this skirt and belting layered over the black tulle is a fab idea, it looks great! And the accessories are fitting too, this perspex clutch fits the style nicely and those gold earrings add a touch of glam =)

An even brighter styling next from our very own Miloshki in the Leather Mini Dress - this is a fab mix of colours and addition of print to the piece. The blue floral dress is a fun idea to layer beneath the orange, the florals match to those on the focal piece and I think the colours are a good contrast. The orange gloves added are a great touch to balance the blue and orange. The blue is continued in the bag, which I think is a perfect choice for the look^ And white boots - I'm always a fan so of course these get a thumbs up from me!

And the final feature comes from Sarah_1980 styling a number of pieces, the Straw Platforms, Pearl Clutch, Rope Earrings and the Wide Belt With Rope - what a number of pieces, but they all look great together in this outfit! Whilst the clothing is not from the store I really have to commend this combination of dresses, I love these pieces together a lot, they both really look fabulous here. The belt is a great fit for the flounce of the skirt, and the bag is fab against the jewel-style bodice of the top dress. The neutral shoes and earrings pair well and also work nicely with the muted tone of the dresses - such a beautiful styling =D

S T Y L I N G S

Now for my stylings - I bought many items from this store, so these are just the first three stylings and you can look out for more soon^ First up is the Maxi Printed Skirt, a perfect piece for Summer. I tried out a number of blue and yellow accessory pieces with this one and I'm pretty happy with my choices, I'm glad I had a lot of options so I can style it up differently again soon. With blue and yellow in the accessories I added more white in the top half, this top is a great Summer staple and the earrings with glasses make a nice final touch. I think with the right accessories this skirt will also look fab in Autumnal outfit. Next is the pairing of the Dress With Print and Wide Belt With Rope which were paired together in the store. I spent a lot of time deciding if I wanted to style them together or not, in the end I opted for together as I do think this dress needs a belt if there's no other clothing pieces being added. I knew I wanted white shoes, I love how these boots look and the more muted white colour I think works well with the white printing on the dress. With the black belt I knew I wanted to add more black in the accessories, which was pretty easy for me - I think these are fitting pieces and there are plenty of other options out there for future outfits. And finally are the Brown Bids Earrings and Oversized Sunglasses, which I really like together but just not with the sunglasses worn on the face as they really command a lot of attention, so them hanging on the bag is a good fit for the pairing. I kept it super simple so the accessories could stand out and I really love the outcome. This beige coat is great for letting the brown of the earrings pop and also fitting with the colours of the sunglasses. Building the outfit around it was easy, white adds the light touch for Summer and the brown accessories were easy to pick - I really quite love the sunglasses paired with this little Louis Vuitton bag, I think I will be using the pairing again for sure^

Over

These jeans came with the most recent Limited Edition drop - my first one in a couple of years. I'm really torn on whether I like them or not - they're not typically 'my vibe'.

 But I'm in the business of trying new things, so here I am giving them ago. I think they're a bit...naked, which can read cheap if you lean too hard into it. So, I've gone for very casual and oversized vibes as a contrast. This massive pink jumper is so laid back it's horizontal, and is reflected in the quirky heel of the chunky boot. The rucksack is one of my favs and when work with headphones, it's the perfect look for being on the move.

 

For now I'm satisfied, but we'll see later if there's more look in them left!

 

Featuring:

Wool Top Oversized • Special Offer

Limited Jeans • Limited Edition

Proenza Inspired Headphones • Mr

Prada Inspired Nylon Backpack • Tributes Gallery

Flamin Platforms • Sunny Bunny

Z U H A I R M U R A D T R I B U T E | Tribute Review

Apologies for the delay on this one, but it's one of the best times of the year - the start of the Summer 2022 Tribute season! I don't really keep too up-to-date with the latest collections from any brand, so I'm pretty open to what there could be in this season, but I think this starts us off pretty strong - the first Tribute of this season is Zuhair Murad! This is the second time we've had this brand in a Tribute season, but it's been a long time since our one release in December 2014 and the collection sure has taken a step up since then, let's take a look:

Very much like the first Zuhair Murad release, this collection isn't so much my thing, but I sure can appreciate a well put together and well executed collection - I think it makes a strong start to the season. Having looked through the recent Zuhair Murad collections I really see some beautiful pieces and looks that I love, so it's nothing against the brand at all, but the gown-focus here is what isn't so much my thing. But starting strong, lets talk accessories because I love those in this release! There are a LOT of accessories in this release, possibly more than we've had in a Tribute release for a long time. First up, footwear - there are a staggering 12 pairs of shoes in this collection which is super impressive. I really quite like a lot of these pairs, I think the team did a great job with them. They are split between boots and heels. In the heels category there are 7 pairs, with a couple coming in two different colour choices. Here I really quite like the Black Feathers Heels (which also come in Satin Pink in a close design), the delicate straps around the ankle are lovely and the feathers are stylish - these really look great on the doll and will work well with a lot of styles. Another classic pair are the Black and/or Silver Strap Heels - super versatile in design and also in both colours available, these will work well for anyone! The criss-cross strap design on the foot looks great and will be a standout detail in an outfit, I also like that despite a lot of straps, they really look like a delicate shoe. I think the Black Heels will be a popular choice - these are half black and half perspex on the front of the foot which makes an interesting design element that I think a lot of people will like, we've had a couple of similar designs in the past which I have, so I won't be picking these up, but I think this pair is a very nice option. These also come in Silver, but personally I don't think this colour works so well with the design. Now onto the boots, which really impress me so much, these styles really are outstanding to me and I'm so pleased with the choice we have. The first pair that caught my eye were the Knee Boots, these have a western-style design with a black base and a beige pattern all around them. I'm not sure what in particular drew me to them, but I just thought they were stunning! These have a more casual vibe to them than the heels or some of the other boots and I felt immediately like they would fit my style well and I would have a lot of options for styling them - I really love these, although haven't seen anyone else wear them yet. Next are the Raspberry Boots which also stand out in the store for their bold colour, it's vibrant and really quite awesome, we don't quite have anything else like them. These are super tall and over the knee in design, but are well-fitted to the leg so layering will work with them. They're quite a unique piece in the store so I really kept thinking about them - I'm excited to style them. The Sequins Boots and Studded Boots have a similar base design, they come up to under the knee with a slouched design around the legs, I quite like this but I'm not sure if it will be to everyones taste. Both pairs are black however the first pair has a silver tone with the sequins and the studs of the second pair are in gold. The final pair of boots which I am currently trying to make my mind up about buying are the Ankle Boots, these stand out as the only ankle boot style in the collection - I like the ankle height for them but also really am quite attracted to the fabulous metallic art-deco pattern, it's unique and it really stands out amongst the other pairs of shoes in the store, I am super tempted! The collection has six bags on offer, however technically five of these are the same design in different colours - which isn't something I'm against, but if you don't like the overall style/design of the Purse (which comes in black, gold, green, pink and white) then you're not left with many options. I like the design, particularly the gold chain handle, I like how it's a handheld piece but would perhaps like an over the shoulder or cross-body option with the design. I've picked up a couple of these and look forward to styling them =) The last bag is the Powder Pink Clutch, this is a super sweet piece, the pink is pretty and it's a minimal design making it pretty versatile - I think it's the sort of piece that will always come in handy in a bag collection. In terms of other accessories there are a couple of pieces, however no jewellery at all with this collection - I think with the style of pieces on offer some jewellery items would have looked great, but the lack of jewellery is balanced with the large number of shoes on offer.

Now the clothing. Whilst I think these pieces really are beautiful and there are so many pieces to choose from (21 looks in the whole collection!), but really these glammed-up looks are really not my style - I find pieces like this are quite 'one time wears' and I find them hard to style in multiple different ways, they're not so versatile. But just because I don't want to buy the pieces myself doesn't mean I can't appreciate them. I do really like that the floors have a slight theming to each of them, so I will go through based on that. The first floor is very mini and gold, I think this is a great opener to the collection. The Gold Black Sequins Dress looks super smart and elegant, but I feel the style is aimed a bit older than what most people on the site are - this also comes with the belt attached and I think it could be more versatile if it was a separate piece because I think the colours of the piece are very nice. The Black Gold Dress is such a cute strapless mini with a flouncing skirt, I love the feathering along with neckline and I think this piece really looks great on the doll. The Sequins Mini Dress also stands out because the design matches that of the Ankle Boots, so I'm tempted to also buy this just to make a matched look^ This piece actually reminds me of the Herve Leger Tribute with the fitted slim style, I really like the long sleeves and the little structure to the shoulders - this is definitely a piece I'm tempted with. The second floor really brings the wow factor with some bold colour however there are also some classic black pieces, I think the Lace Sparkly Mini Dress will be a popular choice, the lace ruffled sleeves are quite stunning - this also comes with the belt attached and bear in mind that the piece is completely sheer. The Red Gown is dramatic, the bold colour looks great and I do really like the sheen on those pleats! The third floor is a lot calmer with more neutral light colours. I love the look of the White Mini Dress in the store, I think it looks super elegant and the striped design really stands out nicely, but the belt is attached and I really don't like how the piece looks on my doll which was a real shame. The Powder Pink Top and Pants set is also super cute and I was very tempted, but this colour didn't look so good on me either, it really put me off. The final floor is all about black pieces and these designs really pull my attention all over the place. The Sequins Jumpsuit looks fabulous, I really like the sleeveless design and the deep V neckline, plus I think the trouser part of it sits on the doll beautifully - my only qualm is the sheer aspect to the whole piece and I'm not sure if layering something underneath might change the look of the piece. I also really liked the Sequins One Piece Suit from this floor, it's the piece I am most tempted to buy, sure it's not hugely versatile but I think it looks great on the doll and looks like it would be easy to accessorise in a number of ways.

F E A T U R E S

First up in the features is Achrome styling up the Leather Ornamental Jacket looking both glamorous and casual at the same time! I love the combination of the jacket with these trousers, the two floral designs seem to have been made for each other, they really fit togteher seamlessly. The black base of the jacket and navy of the trousers also fit together well. Accessorising is simple yet effective, this sparkling silver clutch really pops out well against the dark base and metallic detail of the clothing pieces^

Second is kate17Elegante who also styles the Leather Ornamental Jacket, highlighting some versatility that this piece can offer. The piece looks very rock-chick with these super chunky platform heels and the mesh trousers - the silver works very nicely with the details on the jacket. The rest of the accessories are fitting to the style, the bag is a great size and I love the combination of these big silver hoops with the top knot in the hair, they really complete the look nicely =)

The final feature comes from Bianquette styling up the Purse Gold - I was so glad to see someone making use of one of these bags, particularly the gold version as I wasn't quite sure if I like it or not. I think the bag looks great with the rest of the gold details added in the look, this shirt was a great choice with those golden details around the cuffs! I also really like the 'belt' addition, this is a fun piece that works well for this purpose, it stands out beautifully. The white trousers and hat balance well and look super stylish - a great look overall =D

S T Y L I N G S

And onto my own stylings - so far I have only bought accessories, and quite a lot of them at that! So these looks are just my first stylings and a second styling post will be on the way soon. First up are the Raspberry Boots which I spent a lot of time working with to find a great look, I found several options that I really likes with them, so I think there will be no problem styling them another time. I am so pleased with this outfit for them though, I think they really pop nicely against the bright white of the trousers and the colour of the top and belt, while isn't a perfect match, fits pretty well with them. I also liked adding a few white accessories, this dinky little bag in particular looks great! Next is the Powder Pink Clutch, which actually I thought would be easier to style than it was, however I think it will be a great staple piece and I'm still happy to have bought it. It's almost a cross between pink and a lilac, so I found matching the colour perfectly a little tricky but I think this pink shirt and matching heels work very nicely with it. Accidentally I've gone for the same white trousers, but I think they work very well in this styling too^ And finally are the Knee Boots which so far are definitely my favourite piece of the collection, I really loved styling these so much. I had quite a few options to choose from and I had been quite set on a particular blazer at first, but then when I tried this bag I knew that was the winning accessory combination for this first outfit. The clothing is super simple to really let these accessories stand out and I think that's worked very effectively - I'm excited to style these boots again already =D

Spot On

 Are these spots or are they sequins? I leave that to you to decide.

This look came together in, effectively, a matter of seconds. The little green peeks of this coat went with the green of the top and the bag and then the gold and the shoe and so on...

 

Sometimes, you don't have to make it hard on yourself. Sometimes, you can wear trousers, a nice top and a coat. 

 

Featuring:

Patterned Coat • Royalty

Zita Top • By Malina

LE Ather Slim Suit Pants • It Girls

Polka Dot Scarf • Bonjour Bizou

Green Bag Yes • Antidote 

Gold Buckle Flats • Tingeling Couture

Read Between the Lines

Last week I was waxing lyrical about the benefits of layering to change up a dress and I'm at it again. This time it's a less about colour - I mean there's none at all - and more about lines

This is a Dries Van Noten dress that I stumbled across in the bazaar for a bargain. I've styled it a handful of times already since my return because I thought it had a lot of potential, but every time I think I've come up a bit short. The cut outs at the waist are a bit low, the sleeves aren't quite wide enough to be a feature and the length is suprisingly conservative. 

 

But combined with the lines of an old Balmain bodysuit? It's a winner. All the weird proportions don't bother me anymore because my eye is jumping all over the place to follow the new shapes. I'm leaning into that with complimentary Dries Van Noten shoes that keep 50% of your toes warm, a sculptural purse and graphic eyeliner that really enhances how wall-eyed my doll is, bless her. 

 

Finally, these bold earrings from the latest Elie Saab tribute give a bit of levity and fine detail. You could easily have gone graphic with them as well, but I like the vibe contrast here and I really wanted to show off something from a tribute that had some really strong accessorites. I think I'll be coming back to these earrings for sure.

 

Featuring:

Van Noten Inspired Dress • Inspired by Dries Van Noten Tribute

Balmain Inspired Cut Out Body • Inspired by Balmain Tribute

Black and Gold Earrings • Inspired by Elie Saab Tribute

Accordian Bag • Inspired by Y Project Tribute 

Van Noten Inspired BW Shoes • Inspired by Dries Van Noten Tribute